2013 Top Ten List Spotlight: Sean

For the rest of the year, we’ll be spotlighting our KEXP DJs Top Albums of 2013, leading up to our 2013 90.3 Top Album Countdown! Tune in on Thursday, December 19th for KEXP’s One-Day Radio Rally as we countdown the top albums of the year, as voted on by KEXP listeners.

A quick note before we dive into the self-indulgent madness that is this list: the methodology for these selections was simply A) did I find myself returning and listening to these albums over and over, B) did I think I would be revisiting and really treasure these albums years from now, C) did something in the music correspond strongly to a significant moment in my personal life, or vice versa, and instead of careful introspection I listened to the album instead to avoid any reflective self-analysis.

OK, maybe not so much the last one… Anyway, it was a great year for music so let’s get started with:

5. Chastity Belt – No Regerts (Help Yourself)
I played one of the songs off the Seattle band’s debut early one morning entitled “Giant Vagina” and a concerned listener e-mailed in saying “Really on the air for my kids to hear? Seems a little much.” Don’t fret, concerned parent! Your child will be a better person down the road having heard this song at an impressionable age.

6. Ducktails – The Flower Lane (Domino)
A great collection of feel-good tunes from the Real Estate guitarist, including an ace cover of The Clean’s Peter Gutteridge, so, duh.

7. Dean Blunt – The Redeemer (Hippos In Tanks)
A superb album from one of music’s most baffling and intriguing characters. A true original.

8. Grouper – The Man Who Died in His Boat (Kranky)
A forty-seven minute personal séance for the soul.

10. The Courtneys – The Courtneys (Hockey Dad)
Yah! Super fun house party, slacker pop vibes from the Vancouver trio. Basically a band to have a big crush on, plus they sing about Keanu Reeves a lot. Love it.

Elvis Costello & The Roots – Wise Up Ghost(And Other Songs 2013)
OK, it’s not all peace and love on this end of year wrap up. This selection partly has to do with my historical aversion to Elvis Costello, true, but the grating and insipid vocals certainly don’t help matters. Take your hat and sunglasses off inside, d00d! Four thumbs down.

Worst Song

Daughter – Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)
Yes, really. They’ve taken the outrageously fun, sexy vibe of the original, one of 2013’s best songs, and replaced it with a glum, sexless, I-want-to-take-a-quiet-nap-fully-dressed-in-the-middle-of-the-afternoon vibe.

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Sean is on the air every Thursday morning from 1AM -6AM. You can follow his musings on Twitter [@seanmorroww] and check out old and new music he posts on Tumblr.